On the episode aired on the 26th at 9:50 PM, the 'Rainbow Dark Heroes'—Kim Do-gi (played by Lee Je-hoon), Jang Representative (played by Kim Eui-sung), Ahn Go-eun (played by Pyo Ye-jin), Choi Supervisor (played by Jang Hyuk-jin), and Park Supervisor (played by Bae Yu-ram)—target a malicious 'second-hand scam organization' operating through a used goods trading app.
According to Nielsen Korea, the 11th episode of 'Taxi Driver 3' achieved a peak rating of 14.5% and a metropolitan area rating of 12.2%, securing the top spot in its time slot and among all mini-series aired in December. The 2049 viewership rating, a key indicator of buzz and channel competitiveness, also reached a high of 3.98%, maintaining its number one position across all channels in December, further proving its exceptional popularity.
The episode began with a member of the 'Rainbow Dark Heroes' becoming a victim of crime, heightening interest from the start. Choi Supervisor, trying to help a young girl named Dasom (played by Cha Joon-hee) who was scammed in a second-hand transaction, ends up being scammed out of an additional 5 million won. Upon learning of the situation, Kim Do-gi, along with Ahn Go-eun, tracks down the sender of the fraudulent package to retrieve the lost money. During this mission, they save Yoo Min-jung (played by Jo In) from a suicide attempt, revealing that she too was a victim of identity theft and other heinous acts by the scammers.
Yoo Min-jung, who had previously been scammed, received no help from the police and took matters into her own hands, only to face retaliation. The scammer, hiding behind a screen, used her identity to post fake giveaways, bombarded her with food deliveries, and publicly labeled her as a scammer, ruining her life. The harassment escalated to the point where they discovered her new phone number and address, sending surveillance photos and tightening their grip, pushing Yoo Min-jung to the brink.
With the scammer's voice being the only real clue, tracking them down was challenging. Kim Do-gi first sought out the person who took the surveillance photos. Discovering they were private investigators, he subdued them to obtain contact information, only to find that the identity used was Choi Supervisor's, indicating the scammer had stolen his identity as well. Analyzing the pattern of crimes, Kim Do-gi concluded it was the work of an organization, not an individual.
Ahn Go-eun, in her element, devised a special plan. She suggested not chasing the villains deeper into hiding but luring them out instead. Her strategy involved posting numerous ads on the second-hand app for 'Elements Concert Tickets,' creating a false demand to attract the scammers. As expected, the scammers took the bait when Kim Do-gi posted a request to buy tickets in bulk, and he demanded proof of the tickets. This was Ahn Go-eun's trap to reveal the scammer's identity. The scammer, attempting to sell tickets at 50 times the price, purchased a ticket from a fake site created by Ahn Go-eun, leading to the capture of Kim Jung-soo (played by Lee Hyo-je), the only buyer.
With Ahn Go-eun's 'bait transaction' successful, Kim Do-gi resumed his role as the player. Disguised as a pest control worker, he followed Kim Jung-soo. Shockingly, Kim Jung-soo was a young man conducting these scams with peers at a study café. However, his voice did not match the one harassing Yoo Min-jung. Kim Do-gi captured Kim Jung-soo and interrogated him about the identity of 'that guy.' In a parody of the film 'I Saw the Devil,' Choi Supervisor and Park Supervisor created a threatening atmosphere, providing comic relief. Terrified, Kim Jung-soo confessed everything, revealing he was merely a 'part-time worker' and that the voice belonged to the 'general manager,' whom he had never met due to all communication being remote, leaving the 'general manager' shrouded in mystery once more.
At the end of the episode, the true identity of the 'general manager' (played by Park Si-yoon) was revealed, shocking viewers. The young man, seemingly disconnected from normal social life, not only engaged in second-hand scams but also displayed sadistic tendencies by enjoying animal abuse as a pastime, fueling viewers' anger. The anticipation builds as to whether the Rainbow Dark Heroes can unmask the 'general manager' hiding behind the screen and what kind of justice they will deliver to this new villain devoid of guilt. Additionally, the episode's opening featured a suspicious fisherman disposing of a body in the sea near 'Samheungdo' island, raising questions about his identity and connection to the second-hand scam.
Meanwhile, SBS's 'Taxi Driver 3' is a private revenge drama where the mysterious taxi company Rainbow Transport and taxi driver Kim Do-gi complete revenge on behalf of unjust victims. The 12th episode is set to air on the 27th at 9:50 PM.
Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, TENASIA syjj426@tenasia.co.kr